PLAN IN DETAIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 159, 18 April 1947, Page 3

PLAN IN DETAIL

PROPOSED DAIRY COMMISSION FAIRLY WIDE POWERS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day^ The Government plan for the establishment of a New Zealand Dairy Commission was placed before the Dominion Dairy Industry Conference, which concluded a ■bwo-d.ay sitting in' Wellington \ yesterday. The conference was addressed by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. E. L. Cullen. The New Zealand Dairy Commission will consist of seven members, of whom three shall be appointed on the nomination of the Minister of Marketing after consultation with the Dairy Board, three to be appointed from a panel of six names nominated by the Dairy Board, and the Minister shall consult the Board before recommending the appointments to the GovernorGeneral. The chairman of the board will be appointed on the nomination of the Minister after consultation with the Board. The chairman and members .of the commission will be appointed for five years, provided that at the end of the third year two members, ■ ( to be selected by ballot, shall retire, and similarly two original members shall retire by ballot at the end of the fourth and fifth years respectively. < Further, of the two members retiring at the end of the third, fourth and fifth years, one shall be a member appointed on the nomination of the Minister, and one appointed on the nomination of the board. The chairman shall not he a member of Parliament nor of the board, nor hglcT any paid office under the Crown, nor any other statuory corporation, and members of the commission shall not be members of the Dairy Board. Section 17 (2) of the Primary Produce Marketing Act is to be replaced, and the commission given powers to make such arrangements as it thinks fit for the handling, pooling, transport and storage of afiy dairy produce to which this part of the Act applies; for the shipment of any such dairy produce as is intended for export on such terms and in such quantities as the commission thinks fit; and for the sale of produce to the best advantage. Regulating Market Costs Section 18 of the Act is to be repealed, and authority is to be vested in the commission to purchase f.o.b. all butter and cheese for export. Provision will be made for regulating local market costs and distribution. The commission will be given power to determine the guaranteed price by re-enacting Section 20 (4) and (5) of the Primary Products Marketing Act, this power being given with the proviso that in determining prices, the commission will have regard to the general economic stability of New Zealand. ( The price to be determined by the commission shall be guaranteed by the Government. If the Dairy Industry Account is in debit; or, if esti mates for the ensuing season indicate the possibility that the account may be in debit, then the commission shall consult with the Minister of Marketing before fixing the guaranteed price for the coming season. The commission will have the responsibility of tendering advice to the Government on trends and prospects in overseas markets, and on movements in costs, prices and other factors likely to prejudice the economic stability of the dairy industry. The commission shall comply with the general trade policy of the Government, and with any general or special directions issued by the Minister in-terms of Government-policy. The commission may delegate any of its functions, save that of determining the guaranteed price, to any agent, , whether in New Zealand or over seas. 11 The Export Marketing Department is to act as agent. The transfer of the Dairy Industry Account, including the Dairy Industry Stabilisation account, to the custody of the commission will be authorised. The commission will be required to present an annual report to Parliament.